Chennai, March 1 (NationPress) Udhayanidhi Stalin, the Deputy Chief Minister of Tamil Nadu, officially opened a newly built multi-storey maternity and surgical facility at the Institute of Social Obstetrics and Government Kasturba Gandhi Hospital for Women and Children, located in Chennai's Chepauk area. This development significantly enhances the maternal and neonatal healthcare framework in the state capital.

The facility, which cost Rs 32.32 crore to construct, covers an area of 66,658 square feet and consists of a ground floor along with two additional floors.

The newly established block increases the hospital's bed capacity by 100 and is outfitted with modern medical technology designed to provide comprehensive care for women and infants.

On the ground floor, there are fully equipped operating theatres, a blood sample collection unit, and a laboratory.

The first and second floors include labour monitoring rooms, labour wards, postnatal care units, sections for neonatal care, and isolation wards for infectious diseases.

This building is also equipped with cutting-edge operating theatres, laparoscopic (minimally invasive) surgical capabilities, post-operative care units, continuous monitoring systems, as well as specialised anaesthesia and pain management services.

Following the inauguration, Udhayanidhi Stalin toured the advanced operating theatres and maternity care units that have been established in this new block.

Officials provided him with insights regarding the upgraded infrastructure, which aims to enhance patient safety, minimize complications, and improve health outcomes for mothers and infants.

The expansion is a response to the significant patient load managed by the hospital.

In 2025, the facility recorded a staggering 1,70,731 outpatient visits and 1,32,886 inpatient admissions, highlighting its vital role as one of the leading government maternity hospitals in the state. That same year, the hospital facilitated 6,265 normal deliveries and 2,730 Caesarean (LSCS) surgeries. It also performed 4,323 major surgeries, 8,418 minor surgeries, and 1,200 family welfare surgeries, showcasing the extensive range of services provided.

Present at the inauguration were Health and Family Welfare Minister Ma. Subramanian, Member of Parliament Dayanidhi Maran, and Additional Chief Secretary for Health and Family Welfare, P. Senthil Kumar.

Health officials remarked that this new block will greatly enhance the hospital's capability to deliver high-quality maternal and neonatal care, further solidifying Tamil Nadu's public health framework while emphasizing accessible and affordable healthcare for women and children.